Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution => Topic started by: neilep on 19/04/2008 21:19:43

Title: Why Do Trees Get Knots And What Are They ?
Post by: neilep on 19/04/2008 21:19:43

Dear Tree Huggers,

See this ?

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Now that's some serious tree knotting going in there eh ?....how did that happen ?..had to human influenced yes ?


This is what this post is really about though ?

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What are Tree Knots ?...why do they appear ?


I just don't know !

Do ewe ?

Title: Why Do Trees Get Knots And What Are They ?
Post by: turnipsock on 19/04/2008 23:08:14

It's were the branches come out.

It was so hot in Scotland today, I had to take my shirt off while chopping the logs.

(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thenakedscientists.com%2Fforum%2Findex.php%3Faction%3Ddlattach%3Btopic%3D13963.0%3Battach%3D2776%3Bimage&hash=78dfad7edc8210c2001f26d3641cfd42)

that's a Granny knot!

Title: Why Do Trees Get Knots And What Are They ?
Post by: neilep on 20/04/2008 16:11:26

Thanks TURNIPSOCK !

So knots are where the branches come out from !...yep !...sounds obvious to me npw !!

DOH !!..I'm such a dufus head sometimes...thank you

Title: Why Do Trees Get Knots And What Are They ?
Post by: Andrew K Fletcher on 20/04/2008 18:09:12

Before the knots become solid they begin as fluid, the circulation direction is altered to flow around where the branch has altered the flow path so now we have flow going in two directions and more and more tubular structures are manufactured to accommodate the flow, eventually becoming redundant heart wood leaving an indelible twisted grain pattern showing the route the sap flow has taken.

Great picture of the knotted tree btw. Impressed.

Title: Why Do Trees Get Knots And What Are They ?
Post by: blakestyger on 20/04/2008 18:31:49

Not a granny - it's a reef knot.

Title: Why Do Trees Get Knots And What Are They ?
Post by: Bored chemist on 20/04/2008 18:41:21

It is a granny knot.

Title: Why Do Trees Get Knots And What Are They ?
Post by: neilep on 20/04/2008 20:43:18

Quote from: Andrew K Fletcher on 20/04/2008 18:09:12

Before the knots become solid they begin as fluid, the circulation direction is altered to flow around where the branch has altered the flow path so now we have flow going in two directions and more and more tubular structures are manufactured to accommodate the flow, eventually becoming redundant heart wood leaving an indelible twisted grain pattern showing the route the sap flow has taken.

Great picture of the knotted tree btw. Impressed.

THANK YOU ANDREW. Fascinating explanation....glad you like the picture.

Title: Why Do Trees Get Knots And What Are They ?
Post by: neilep on 20/04/2008 20:46:11

Top left...


Granny and Reef knot look the same to me !!....ahh...I CAN see the difference now !!


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